Improvement in horse-rakes



T. H. DODGE.

Horse Rake.

No. 45.4830 Patented Dej; 20.1864.

UMTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THoMAS H. DODGE, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-RAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 45,481, dated December 20, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. DODGE, of the city and county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful 1m provements in Horse-Rakes and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of said horse-rake, one of the supporting-wheels being represented in dotted lines to show the parts in its rear. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the same, showing the rake-teeth resting on the ground in the operation of raking. Fig. 3 represents a similar section, showing the rake-teeth in an elevated position to discharge the raked hay.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents the axle of the machine, on which the supporting-wheels B are set. The thills O are firmly secured to the said axle, and the drivers seat D is supported on the springbars E, which are secured to the cross-bar F of the thills.

G represents the rake-head, to which the curved rake-teeth are secured in the ordinary manner. It is hinged to the axleA by means of the hinges a, and can freely swing on said hinges to conform to the undulations of the ground and to elevate the rake to discharge the raked hay.

By reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be observed that the rake-head is hinged to the main axle in Such a manner that its weight is thrown forward of its fulcrum a, and when the said rake-head is depressed to raise the raketeeth its weight acts a counterpoise, and thus greatly facilitates the operation, which otherwise would be difficult by reason of the press ure of the hay upon the rake-teeth:

H represents a curved segmental spur-gear, which is secured to the rake-head Gr. It is of such a shape that the center of its periphery is in the center of the hinge a.

I represents another segmental or full spurpinion, which is in gear with the toothed sector H, and whichis keyed on the shaft 11, whose ends are supported by the lugs c. The shaft 1) is provided with a lever, K, and treadles d e,

which are within con venient reach of the driver on his seat, and by means of which he can operate the rake whenever he wants to raise or lower it. I also provide a rope or cord, L, which passes around the sheavef, and one end of which is secured to the drivers seat and the other to the periphery of the spur-wheel I to enable the driver to operate the rake also by this device. Thus it will be seen that the operator can raise the rake or hold it down with either foot by pressing upon either of the treadlesd 0. He can also raise or hold it down by means of the hand-lever K, and can at the same time employ both his hands and feet to raise or hold down the rake.

To the right'of the drivers seat is a hand catch-lever, M, which is secured to the side of the axle A. A pin, g, on the rakehead strikes against a cam, 2, on said lever when the rake head is forced forward, and forces it sidewise until the pin is below the catch 3, and the rakehead can thus be retained in an'elevated position until the pin 9 is set free by the driver, disconnecting the lever M therefrom.

It is evident that a full spur-wheel could not be secured to the rake-head to impart to it the motion above described, but that it must he a segmental curved gear, as set forth.

Instead of using a segmental spur-gear and pinion, a segmental bevel-gear and bevel-pinion may be employed, if such an arrangement should be found to be more convenient to apply this invention to certain machines. When bevel-gears are used the shaft 1) of the bevelpinion must be set in a direction at right angles to the rake-head Gr, instead of being parallel to the same, as above described.

By my invention the rake-head can be operated by the hand'lever in both directions and in a positive manner, while the power is applied to the head in such a manneras not to require any great force to elevate the teeth. Again, the position ofthe lever K when theteeth are down is such that the operator can exert his Strength to the greatest advantage, his feet being braced against the frame-work of the machine.

Having thus fully described the nature of myinventiou, what I claim herein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The employment, in connection with the rake'head, eccentrically hinged, as described,

of the gears H I, shaft 1), and hand-lever K, rake-head G, gears H I, and shaft I), provided all arranged substantially as and for the purwith hand and foot levers K d e, of the elevatposes described. ing and lowering rope L, substantially as and 2. The combination, with the rake head, for the purposes described. hinged as described, of the pin 9 and spring catch-lever M, substantially in the manner and Witnesses: for the purposes set forth.

3. The arrangement, in combination with the THOMAS H. DODGE.

J. HENRY HILL, ELIZA D. DODGE. 

